CHRISTMAS IN FLORENCE

When we go to Florence at Christmas time it seems like a different town. We are not there to run our art vacations in Italy, that’s in April, when the hills are covered in apple blossom and the spring sun glows yellow across the river Arno. We go there every December to celebrate our wedding

ON THE BRIDGE

I often stand on the little bridge at the end of our lane mesmerised by the Corsonna river. In summer, it is nothing more than a rivulet, where the sunlight peeping between the branches of the overhanging trees, sends silver darts into the water dancing among the rocks. Our guests at Art Toscana, painting holidays

The Salt marshes in Sicily

This is a picture of the salt marshes at Trapani (Le Saline di Trapani) in Sicily where our Art Toscana painting in Italy guests develop their oil paintings. It is truly an inspirational place especially for artists. The salt pans have a pink hew due to the prawns that live there. This attracts flocks of

An Art Toscana Cooking Lesson with Mari

Here are Steve and Chris, two of our American guests, who came with their painting partners to one of our Art Toscana painting holidays in Italy courses. Yes they are wearing aprons because Mari is giving them a cookery lesson. I did intend not to talk about food in this blog but one can’t seem

Our Beach In Sicily

This vast expanse of golden beach and deep blue sea is the beach at Balestrate in Sicily. It’s a ten minute walk from the hotel through a eucalyptus and pine wood, the smell of which is wonderfully overpowering. Many of our guests at Art Toscana painting holidays in Italy went to the beach for a